Matthew 6:11-" Give us this day our daily bread."
What does Matthew 6:11 mean? Does it simply ask for a physical provisions, or does it ask for a fulfillment of less tangible needs?
Matthew 6:11 comes from the Lords Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. The most obvious meaning of "give us this day our daily bread" is a physical fulfillment. This is the acknowledgement that God is the provider that meets all of the physical daily needs. The Lord's prayer comes very shortly before Jesus spoke about worrying, in Matthew 6:26 Christ says "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" I certainly do not think that is coincidence! God provides all of our daily needs, weather we acknowledge that or not, He does!
" Give us this day our daily bread" isn't just about a physical provision though, God is also the provider of less tangible needs being met. Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." Salvation is the perfect example of God's spiritual provision in our lives. He satisfied our need for salvation by providing His Son as a sacrifice for all sins. Romans 8:32 says " He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" God went to an extreme to fill our need for salvation.
His spiritual equipping did not stop at salvation- Philippians 4:13 says "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." This verse can be misinterpreted to say that God will meet whatever need we have. It is God's will to supply all of our needs, but the key word is "God's" will. God sometimes teaches us through adversity, we may not understand that through suffering God is providing for our needs. 1 Corinthians 10:13 is also a wonderful reminder of how God provides- " No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." Even in the midst of whatever hardship you face, God has equipped you with what you need to not be overtaken by it- He provides a way of escape-He has provided Himself.
Respond: Do you look for all the ways God has provided for you? Does God ever ask more than you are capable of? How has God shown His faithfulness to you? How does God daily meet your physical and spiritual needs?
Reflect: Philippians 4:6-"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
John 3:16- " For God loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."
Ephesians 2:8-"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,"
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